The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-03


AT a competitive examination Of candi-
dates for appointment as midshipmen in the
Annapolis Naval Academy from the Seventh
New York Congressional District, which is
made up of three Assembly districts of New
York city, held last week, there were twelve
competitors between the ages Of fourteen
and eighteen years. Not single one Of
them passed the physical examination.
Some had heart trouble, others malforma-
ton Of the chest, and the rest were rejected
for various other bodily defects. In COM
menting on these facts the New York Post
recalls the reasoning of an eminent London
physician whose experience has led him de-
clare that 'the effect of town life is to pro-
ducea distinct retrogression to small, dark
or, precocious race or less potcntfsfitics than
the EAsAie nonulation." In this country since
the war, the notion has prevailed that the
small sized men who went from the offices
and the counters of the cities stood the stress
OF campaign better than the larger and more
muscular men from the country. But in
competitive physical examination it is new
ertheless probable that the man who has had
the advantage Of country air and exercise
will surpass the man who has been brought
up in great and crowded city.
The shooting of the Rev. Mr.. Haddock of
Sioux City, Iowa, on account of his zeal in
the cause of prohibition, is paralleled by an
affair in Hayerhill. Ohio, in which physi-
clan lost his life for his efforts to promote
social and moral reforms in the village Pre-
vious to his coming to Haverhill, two BROTH
ers, Mccoy by name, seem to have been its
political managers. One Of them kept rum
shop and the other was postmaster. As
soon as the young physician, Northrop by
name, settled in the town, he began to agi-
tate for the suppression of the saloons, and
succeeded SO well that Mccoy was likely to
be driven out of business Mccoy was ex-
asperated, and determined either to brighten
the doctor from continuing his crusade or
put him out Of the way. So one day last
last week Pete Mccoy fred upon DIR.
Northrup as he was passing in the street in
broad daylight, wounding him severely. AS
he tried to escape, Alfred Mccoy, the post
master. stood in his way to drive him back SO
that Pete, the rumseller, might get another
shot at him. DR.. Northrup struck at Alfred
with his pocket knife. inRicting dangerous
wound, and then Pete ran up, put his shot
gun against Northrup's breast and fred
killing him instantly. The crime was bold
er than the Haddock murder, and there is
less doubt Of the identity of the guilty per-
son. Indeed there is no doubt at all, for the
deed was committed in broad daylight on
public street. 1t is gratifying to know, also,
that Mccoy has fewer excusers than did the
murderer Of Haddock, and that public senti-
ment In Hayerhill is very strong against him.
The saIoonists this year seem to be furnishing
abundant evidence Of the truth of the proverb
that whom the gods wish to destroy they
first make mad. Such crimes as the murders
OF Haddock and Northrup, and such yigor-
GUS resistance as the liquor manufacturers
and sellers Of New York and Pennsylvania
are making to any regulation of their BUSH
ness, can only have the effect of rousing pub
lie sentiment on the question, and solidifying
the friends Of temperance in movement for
the suppression Of the rum power that will
prove irresistible.